Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Portrait
Mean Gene
Let me introduce you to Mean Gene. That’s the name on the back of his jersey. His given name is Gene Greening. I saw Gene on recent visit to Lambeau Field – home of the Green Bay Packers of NFL fame.
I had a few minutes and decided to stop in and take photos of anything that might catch my eye. Turns out, Mean Gene was the most interesting thing I encountered. With his “#1 Fan” foam finger and other stylish accessories attached to his Cheese Head, he was a standout. I asked if I could take his photo and he was kind enough to accommodate me…cheering, “Go, Pack, Go!” while waving his Packers towel. I’ll bet Gene could tell you stories and glories of many Packer seasons. Unfortunately, neither of us had time to chat – just snapped a few quick photos and went our separate ways.
I did learn, beside being the ultimate Packers fan, Mean Gene was at Lambeau that day as a volunteer. He was helping with some event for disabled veterans. It’s obvious, Gene is living up to his reputation as a true Packers Fan but I don’t think he’s succeeding in pulling off the “Mean” persona. (But, then again, I’ve never seen him on game day.)
To get a better look at Mean Gene, click on the photo and a larger version will open in a new browser tab.
Bathtime Bliss
Not all babies enjoy bathtime, but this one certainly does. He’s happy enough to show off those impressive new teeth.
To view a larger version of this photo, click on the photo. Feel free to leave any comments below.
Wishful Thinking
I wonder what thoughts were rolling through the birthday boy’s mind before he makes his wish and blows out the candles. (Maybe wondering why there are only half as many candles as their shoudl be…or their odd placement.)
Turned out all the lights to capture this by pure candlelight.
You can view a larger version by clicking on the photo.
Rinse & Repeat
Our grandson, Sammy, actually likes bath time. At only eight months old, he doesn’t even mind the rinse cycle.
The hand model is grandma – my lovely wife, Sara.
To view a larger version of this image, click on it.
I Am Seven, Hear Me Roar
Emma is seven years old and full of energy. On this evening, she had bouncing-off-the-walls energy.
This is an awesome image! Now, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not bragging on myself because it happened quite by accident – as awesome shots sometimes do. It would never enter my mind to try an set up a shot like this. Any serious photographer will tell you, there are those moments that you couldn’t have planned, couldn’t have set up, when all the planets are aligned and the angels are smiling upon you. That was this moment. Here’s how it came about.
I was outdoors, trying to capture a photo of some wrens entering/exiting their birdhouse. I was using a 300mm, zoom lens, to get a close-up, from a distance. I had just finished photographing the birds, because the day was ending and there no longer was enough light in the shaded area to get a good image.
About this time, folks showed up for a family gathering. Emma saw me with the camera and started hopping around me saying, “Take a picture of me!” I couldn’t take a photo of her because I had the long zoom lens and she was too close – I couldn’t even get the lens to focus at that distance. I told her she was too close, and if she would go a little farther away I could take a photo. Well, I meant she should move ten to fifteen feet away. Emma just heard, “farther away,” and took off running. My attempts to call her back never reached her ears and she finally stopped and turned around about 20 yards away.
The amazing thing was where she stopped. Quite by accident, she stopped in a spot where the setting sun was able to stream through an opening in the trees. Ten feet farther or closer and she would have been in the shadows. I remember being in awe at the way the light was hitting her. Thankfully I had the presence of mind to focus and shoot. Even then, I didn’t really think this shot would turn out so well…so sharp in the low light conditions. I have no idea of what she was saying to me.
For fellow photographers that would like the specifics: 1/90 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 300mm, handheld, no artificial light, manual mode.
To view a larger version of this image, click on the photo.
Hut Hut
A future football fan gets a unique perspective of the game in a life-size display at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. It’s a fun place for the whole family, plenty to look at – especially for the true football fan.
See more of the details in a larger version of this shot by clicking on the photo.
Engaged
Meet David, Michelle…and the jewelry box. When we met at a local park for their Engagement Photo shoot, they told me they wanted to include this jewelry box in one of the photos because it held sentimental importance to them.
The jewelry box cover says, “You are My Forever Love.” It was a gift from David to Michelle on the day he proposed to her. In fact, it was the jewelry box that provided the words. The box has an audio feature. It will record your voice and play your personal message whenever the box is opened. David recorded his proposal to Michelle and gave her the box as a gift. When she opened it…well, I didn’t get the details of that encounter, but the photo above tells you everything you need to know.
There was a moment as we were preparing that he opened the box and the message began to play. I quickly moved away so I couldn’t hear it. I don’t know if they cared whether I heard it or not but, to me, it just seemed too special, to private, a moment for young lovers, for her ears only.
To view a larger version of the portrait above, click on it.
For friends and family of David and Michelle, a gallery of all the photos from our session can be viewed here: GALLERY
Mama’s Pride and Joy
Welcome baby Blake! He is an Easter baby, born March 31, 2013. He is one day old here. I was able to capture this sweet shot of him, with his proud mama looking on.
I had taken a bunch of typical photos during out short visit and had packed up my camera to leave. The nurse had come and did her nurse stuff – checking whatever they check – and placed him in the neonatal bed. As I walked by, headed for the door, this view caught my eye and I thought it would make a great image. So, I quickly unpacked my camera and snapped a couple – this being the last one. It is my favorite of all I took.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for these parents. You can’t duplicate this a week later. It’s a good example of why you should call a professional photographer when the moment really matters. The cost of a professional is minuscule when you consider the priceless memories you will have captured forever.
To see a larger version of this image, click on the photo.
Family in the Woods
I photograph a lot of different subjects – sunrises, lighthouse, birds, bugs, flowers, scenic landscapes, etc.; just browse through this website. The one subject that intimidates me and always proves to be my greatest challenge is people.
I can go to shoot one of my favorite lighthouses at sunrise and if the finished product doesn’t live up to my expectations, no big deal. They’ll be another day and another sunrise. The only person who is out anything is me and the only real loss is my time. When I photograph a sunrise, I’m trying to capture a moment. With a portrait, you have to first try and create “the moment” and then successfully capture it.
When photographing people, I’m not the only one who has a stake in the outcome. Others are investing their time and come with their own expectations. If I take fifty shots of a sunrise and I mess up some camera setting or I just don’t like the way any of them turned out – nobody knows but me. When you take fifty shots of a person, make them go through a battery of facial and body contortions, you’d like to have something of value to reward their patience and effort.
This photo is from a family portrait session last fall. A great group to work with – and a good lookin’ bunch, too. I like the way this turned out, but it comes in low on my “satisfaction” scale. There are a number of technical issues that spoil it for me (I won’t bore you with the specifics). I did a lot of post processing, trying to overcome those issues, and it’s still not quite there.
The good news is, each portrait session is a learning experience. And, as they say…”Practice makes perfect.”
You can view a larger version of this image by clicking on the photo.
Digital Divide
A father-daughter moment – dad browsing with his iPhone and daughter browsing “old school.”
Sometimes a “moment” just happens. This photo was taken in May of 2011 while visiting family. There were a number of other people in the room, visiting, laughing and having a good time. I was down on the floor focusing my photographic effort on the little girl, snapping pictures and didn’t really notice the symmetry between her and her father in the background until I saw it on my computer screen.
This image actually took a good deal of work and digital magic. Beyond converting it to monochrome, there was another person in the shot and a fourth person’s foot that I had to remove to isolate my subjects.
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